Subgrader



April 4, 1944. w gw s 2,345,612

SUBGRADER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v NZ;- A 22 Zhmcntor W N N W H LEVI/A3 w. H. LEWIS 2,345,612

SUBGRADER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Isnvoutor W H Lgms.

(Ittorueu Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBGRADER William Hurst Lewis, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,465

14 Claims. (01. 37-108) My invention relates to subgraders particularly adapted for road beds, or similar road surfaces.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel grader or subgrader for road beds, or similar or like surfaces, and one which may be easily and efficiently operated and manipulated in soft, hard, and rocky road beds.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a machine of this class whereby excess material may be readily removed from the road bed, or like surface, or whereby material produced in a grading or subgrading operation may be readily removed, and whereby the material may be easily and quickly conveyed to either side of the road.

One of the principal features of this invention is to provide novel means for forming the road bed and novel, compact, and efiicient means for conveying the resultant material from the road bed to the side, by producing a moving bottom for the machine.

An important object of this invention is to provide a machine of this class which has a very large capacity, that is, one which will dispose of or convey to the side of the road bed large quantitles of material removed in forming the road bed.

An important object of this invention also is the provision of a machine of this class which will readily convey all kinds of material, including clays, large rocks, to the side of the road.

Important features of this invention are the provision of means for guiding or aligning the subgrading machine with the road side form or header boards or other like means, and also a construction whereby the grading. blades or means are automatically extended laterally to the side form or header boards, or the like, and 7 further, whereby means are provided whereby the side form or header boards, or the like, which support and guide the subgrader, are continuously cleaned or scraped of foreign matter so that the subgrader may rest directly thereon and be smoothly guided thereby.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a machine of this class which is double faced, that is, which may be moved in either direction as desired.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a subgrader for roads, and the like, having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail, and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my subgrader in its preferred form of construction, showing the same in a grading position on a roadway;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof in position on aroadway, shown in profile;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view thereof, taken through 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing one end of the conveyor belt, with the view taken at 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation, taken at 55 of Fig. 1, showing the guide shoe at one side of the subgrader;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation, taken at 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing the adjustable mounting of the frame on one of the wheels;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View thereof, taken through-T-T of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation, taken at 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the deflector blades and pivoted wings.

One of the principal novel features of my invention is the construction of a subgrader, which may be drawn as effectively in either of opposite directions on a roadway, for grading and removing materials when drawnin such opposite directions, during the construction of the road, and which is also so constructed thatmaterials, whether loose earth, clay, stones, or thelike, will not pile up in front of the machine but will .be easily carried or forced backwardly onto a laterally moving bottom or belt and conveyed to the side of the road which is under construction.

The frame I of my subgraderis relatively narrow and long, and is constructed preferably to span the ordinary roadway. The roads, designated A, under construction are usually lined or bounded by side forms or header boards, desig nated B in the drawings. One or both sides of the strip of the road, under construction, may be bounded by finished slabs ofthe road, which serve the same purpose as the side forms. The frame is carried at its opposite ends on wheels 2 which are adapted to rest on the side forms or finished slabs. V

The wheels 2 may be flat and rubber bound, and they are revolubly mounted on horizontal axles 3 which extend laterally from the lower ends of cylindrical supporting columns 4 carried by the frame I. The columns are ro-tatably mounted in cylindrical sleeve portions 5a of wheel supporting slides 5, the inner ends of the axles being secured to the lower ends of the sleeve portions The slides 5 are vertically slidable in T-channels 6 in members ii, which are positioned angularly at the four corners of the frame On each supporting column 4 is secured a collar '1 which is seated against the upper end of the sleeve portion 5 and is provided with a radial arm l for manually turning the supporting column 5 about its axis. The supporting column 4 is locked in non-rotatable relation with the sleeve portion a of the slide by means of a pin 8, which may extend through registering holes in the collar 1 and a lateral flange 5* at the upper end of the sleeve 5 The supporting columns 4 preferably extend above the frame and are provided at the upper ends with means for raising or lowering the frame with respect thereto. Such means is shown in the drawings as a cable-lifting or a block-andtackle means, which is operated by a power plant or motor carried on top and near one end of the frame I. On the drive shaft of the motor is slidably mounted a reversible clutch l2 which is adapted to drive a worm gear mechanism l3, which is also located at one side of the frame. Co-axial with the gear i3 of the worm gear mechanism is a drum M, which may be divided, and upon which may be wound four cables l5.

. Each of these cables extends preferably around a sheave |6 mounted on the frame adjacent the upwardly extending portion of the column 4, around a sheave I! at the upper end of the supporting column, around a sheave l3, carried on the frame another sheave is on the upper end of the column 4, and is then secured at its end to the frame I, as indicated by i5 In this manner, rotation of the drum M simultaneously raises the frame with respect to all of the supporting columns 4, and by a minimum of power.

The supporting column 4 is provided intermediate the collar 1, and the upper end of the column with a screw 4*, on which is mounted a screw collar 28. When the frame is raised to the desired position with respect to the supporting columns '4, the screw collars 20 are screwed upwardly until the frame rests thereon, thus holding the frame in its raised position. These screw collars may also be screw manually on the screws 4* for manually raising any desired part of the frame with respect to the respective supporting wheels, and thus relative to the header boards, upon which the wheels rest.

I From the above, it is apparent that the axes of the wheels may be shifted from positions perpendicular to the longitudinal travel of the frame, to positions at right angles to their normal positions, or to any intermediate angles. These positions are determined by the positions of the pins 8 in the holes 5 of the flange 5. If the axes of the wheels are located at right angles to their normal operative positions, that is, parallel to the longitudinal travel of the machine, the machine may be drawn cross-wise. Since the fore and aft dimension of the machine is relatively narrow, the machine may be drawn easily over the ordinary highway when the wheels are placed as last described. By inserting the pins '8 in intermediate holes, the machine may be drawn at an angle to its normal direction of travel.

It will be here noted that if the subgrader is to be moved in its normal course, with the wheels 2 resting on the header boards B, this is done by any suitable means, such as a conventional tractor (not shown), which may be connected to the subgrader by any suitable means, as for example, by the draw-bar C.

At the front and rear, that is, the long sides of the frame, are positioned grading blades 2|, which are parallel to the frame and so positioned that their outer cutting edges may be adjusted with respect to the frame to positions above and below the traction portions of the wheels, or in this instance, the upper edges of the header boards. These'grading blades are inclined gradually upwardly and backwardly from their cutting edges, as will be hereinafter described. The immediate cutitng portions of the blades may have hardened cutting edge members 2W which may be adjusted relative to the main or supporting portions of the grading blades.

At the middle and lower portion of the frame I, and between the grading blades 2|, is a conveyor belt 22, which is preferably a rubberized fabric belt. The belt extends around drums or reels 23 at the opposite lateral sides or ends of the frame, both of said drums being preferably positioned beyond the ends of the frame. As shown in the drawings, the belt 22 has secured to the under or inner side of it a multiplicity of closely spaced carriages, consisting of transverse straps 2 3 having rollers 25 mounted on the ends thereof beyond the edges of the belt. Each of the drums or reels 23 has, at its opposite ends, sprockets 23 which receive the rollers 25 for moving the conveyor belt.

The portions of the upper and lower stretches or runs of the conveyor belt, that is, the portions between the operating sprockets, as indicated by 22 and 22 are horizontal or flat and are located between the inner edges of the grading blades, the edges of the belt being positioned beyond the inner edgs of the grading blades. The rollers 25, at the edges of the belt, ride upon vertically spaced tracks 26 and 2'5 located below the inner edge portions of the grading blades. The inner edge portions of the grading blades are bent inwardly and downwardly, as indicated by 2|, and the latter downwardly bent portions have flexible members 2| preferably rubber belting, which yieldingly extend from the inner edges of the grading blades over the edges of the upper surface of the conveyor belt.

The rails at each side of the tracks are secured to and extend inwardly from vertical walls at the lower portions of the frame. The portions 2| of the grading blades 2|, intermediate the outer and inner edges are positioned above the upper edges of the side walls l that is, the

grading blades extend downwardly toward the outer and inner sides of said side walls.

The opposite ends of horizontal portion 22 of the upper stretch of the conveyor belt 22 extend upwardly at a gradual angle, as indicated by 22, over the drums 23. From the lower portions of these drums the belt extends at an angle downwardly, as indicated by 22, to the lower stretch 22 of the belt. The tracks 25 and 27 are also inclined upwardly at the ends of the intermediate horizontal portions to support and direct the course of the same between the drums 23. However, the upper stretch of the belt is retained on or guided with respect to the upper track 25, the horizontal or flat portion being retained by means of the portion 2 l of the grading member 2| and by the flexible strip 2H, and the inclined portion 22 by means of a guide rail 28 also having a flexiblestrip 28 at its inner. edge. This flexible strip 28 extends preferably over the top of the drums and further toward the middle of the belt, as shown in Fig. 1.

The motor or engine I l is also employed to operate the conveyor belt in either direction. The shaft ll of the engine is connected to a shaft 3| by a reversing transmission 32. The shaft 3| has a sprocket 33 which is connected, by a chain 34, to a sprocket 35 on the shaft 36, on which one of the drums 23 is mounted.

At the opposite ends of the frame, and at the forward and rear sides thereof, are deflector members or walls 4|, at the lower portions of which are deflector blades 42 and 43, which diverge outwardly toward the front and rear of the subgrader. These deflector blades are inclined downwardly toward their front edges, but are rigid with the frame I and the deflector walls 4|, but the cutting or forward edge portions or members thereof, designated 42 may be adjusted downwardly a considerable distance. The lower edges of the cutting edge members are also inclined downwardly toward their free ends so that the side portions of the surface of the road are cut deeper than the middle to give the road surface a crown effect.

On the outer edges of the deflector walls 4| are pivoted deflector wings 43, these wings being pivotally mounted near their upper and lower ends. The deflector wings 43 are also inclined forwardly at their lower portions, and on the latter portions are adjustably mounted cuttin edge members 43 The lower edge of these members 43 are substantially in alignment with the lower edges of the members 42 It will be noted that the pivotal axes of these wings are slightly inclined to the vertical, as shown, in such a manner that the cutting edge members 43 tend normally to remain substantially in alignment with the cutting edges of the members 42.

At the free edges of the pivoted deflector wings 43 are vertical sockets 43 in which are mounted to slide freely the shoe supports 44, from the lower ends of which depend deflector limiting shoes 45. These shoes are of angular cross-section and are adapted to be held against the upper and inner sides of the side form or header boards. The shoes are held against the upper sides by reason of gravity, but may be resiliently held against the inner sides of the same by springs 46. springs are shown in the drawings as leaf springs and are shown as carried by the fixed deflector walls 4 l. These springs resiliently engage the forward sides of the pivoted deflecting wings 43. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to prevent the shoe supports 44 from dropping from the sockets 4-3 when the frame of the subgrader is raised, or when the shoes 45 are not limited by header boards.

It is obvious, of course, that when the subgrader is moved along the roadway during the subgrading operation, the wings 43 are forced against the side of the roadway, with the shoes 45 against the side form or header boards, by the road material accumulated during the subgrading operation. Thus the springs 46 may be omitted.

The inner edges of the deflector wings may overlap and be positioned in front of the outer edges of the deflector walls, but there is preferably provided a vertical strip 48 of rubber belting at the inner edge of the wing which extends backwardly over the forward portion of the deflecting wall 4 I.

To prevent appreciable lateral movement of the These subgrader, when riding upon the header boards, I have provided guide shoes 5| which are carried by the frame and may be located between the wheels. These shoes 5| are flat vertical plates slightly rounded at their vertical edges. They serve as guide means to retain the subgrader in proper position on the header boards when conveying the subgrader thereon, and are particularly useful when moving the subgrader around curves in the road.

It will be noted that the grading blades are all raised above the traction portion of the wheels 2 when the subgrader is transported from place to place, but they may be lowered to any desired position below the upper edges of the header boards, as described above. The forward cutting edge members of the blades, together with the corresponding cutting edge members of the deflector blades and wings, may be adjusted to the desired crown of the roadway.

The long sides of the frame, that is, the front and rear sides, have openings I and I Each of these openings may be closed by gates or by a series of gates 6| and 62, which are pivoted at one edge at the upper sides of the openings. When the subgrader is drawn in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3, the gates 6| are raised and held in such positions, while the gates 62 are lowered against the upper portion of the grading blades at the rear of the subgrader. Either of the gates may be held in raised positions by hooks 63. Thus, material may enter the interior of the frame over the forward grading blade. As the subgrader is moved forwardly, the material on the grading blade is forced backwardly to the top of the conveyor belt and is thereby conveyed over the conveyor belt to one side of the roadway, depending upon the direction in which the con veyor belt is moved. When the subgrader is drawn in the opposite direction, the gates 62 are raised and the gates 6| are lowered.

In order to prevent certain materials, such as clay or adobe, from piling up on the grading blades against the frame above the opening, I have widened the upper portion of the frame so that this upper portion extends substantially over the outer or cutting edge of the grading blade, as shown in Fig. 3.

Although my machine, as shown in the drawings, is not made laterally adjustable to accommodate roads of different widths, it is so constructed that it may be readily separated in the middle, and extension units may be readily inserted and secured in place at the separated portion. Or, longer central units may be readily substituted for shorter units. Thus, the machine may be constructed to accommodate roads of different widths. For this reason, the motor or engine, as well as the connected transmission mechanism for operating the conveyor belt or the frame raising means, is located at one side of the frame. This middle unit, of various lengths, is designated 'H and consists of a frame I 1*, similar to frame I, and is provided with gates N and 1!, s milar to gates 6| and 62, and is also provided with the necessary grading blades, tracks, and the like. With such lateral extension of the machine, it is necessary only to insert an additional length in the belt conveyor, and to extend two of the cables l5.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not Wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for grading roads, a long frame adapted to be located transversely of the road and capable of being conveyed longitudinally of the road, means at the opposite end portions of the frame for supporting the same relative to the bed of the road, a continuous belt conveyor extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame, blade means at the front and rear sides of the frame for lifting and directing material from the bed of the road in front of the frame to the upper portion of the conveyor when the machine is moved in the corresponding direction, and gate means on the frame for closing the following side of the frame above the corresponding blade means when the machine is conveyed in either direction with respect to the road.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced road header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, said means comprising spaced forward and rear supporting devices, a belt conveyor means extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame and beyond one of the header boards opposite the bed of the road, blade means for lifting and directing material from the bed of the road in front of the frame to the upper portion of the conveyor means, and guide shoes at the: lateral sides of the frame and intermediate the forward and rear supporting devices, said guide shoes being adjustable below and above the supporting means.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced road header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, a continuous belt conveyor extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame and beyond one of the header boards opposite the bed of the road, blade means for lifting and directing material from the bed of the road in front of the frame to the upper portion of the conveyor, and deflector wings pivoted at the ends of the blade means for extending the blade means laterally to the header boards.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced road header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, a belt conveyor means extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame, blade means for directing material from the road bed to the conveyor, and shoes mounted on the frame in front of the supporting means for the frame and capable of being normally and continuously forced laterally to engage the header boards in front of said supporting means, said shoes guiding the end portions of the blade means to assume positions adjacent the header boards.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, blade means inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the frame between the supporting means, the forward portion being positioned below the frame, end blade deflectors positioned near the opposite ends of said blade means, de-

, flector wings pivoted at the forward ends of the blade deflectors, and means resiliently urging the free ends of the wings toward the header boards.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a drum, an endless conveyor extending towards the opposite ends of the frame and around the drum, an inclined flange extendingover the edges of the conveyor, and a yieldable and resilient edge member extending from the edge of the flange to the top of the conveyor and over the edge of the portion of the conveyor extending around the drum.

'7. In a machine for grading roads, a long frame adapted to be located transversely of the road and capable of being conveyed longitudinally of the road, means at the opposite end portions of the frame for supporting the same relative to the bed of the road, a continuous belt conveyor extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame, blade means at front and rear sides of the frame for lifting and directing material from the bed of the road to the upper portion of the conveyor when the machine is moved in the corresponding direction, and separate gates pivoted at their upper edges within the frame, one at each of the front and rear sides of the frame above the corresponding blade means, each gate closing the space above the respective blade means when the machine is conveyed in the direction of the other blade means.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced road header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, a continuous belt conveyor extending longitudinally and substantially the full length of the frame, blade means for lifting and directing material from the bed, of the road in front of the frame to the upper portion of the conveyor, and deflector wings pivoted at the ends of the blade means for extending the blade means laterally to the header boards.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, blade means inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the frame between the supporting means, the forward portion being positioned below the frame, deflector wings pivoted at the ends of the blade means, and means resiliently urging the free ends of the wings toward the header boards.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced header boards, of a frame, mean for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, blade means inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the frame between the supporting means, the forward portion being positioned below the frame, deflector wings pivoted at the ends of the blade means, guide shoes at the free ends of the deflector wings, and means resiliently urging the free ends of the wings toward the header boards and the shoes in engagement therewith.

11. In a machine for grading a road, a frame adapted to be located transversely of the road, means at the opposite end portions of the frame for supporting the same relative to the bed of the road, a continuous belt conveyor extending longitudinally of the frame and provided with a substantially horizontal portion between the supporting means and an upwardly inclined portion extending from the horizontal portions beyond the supporting means at one end portion of the frame, a track comprising channel shaped rails with he channels thereof directed toward each other for guiding the opposite edge portions of the conveyor between the horizontal and inclined portions, said conveyor having closely positioned rollers extending beyond the opposite edges of the belt conveyor and into the channels of the rails adapted to ride therein, and a blade means for lifting and directing material from the bed of the road in front of the frame to the horizontal portion of the conveyor.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with spaced header boards, of a frame, means for supporting the opposite end portions of the frame on the header boards, blade means inclined downwardly and forwardl from the front side of the frame between the supporting means, at said opposite end portions, for lifting and directing backwardly road material from the bed of the road in front of the frame, and guide means at the opposite ends of the forward portion of the frame, said guide means being capable of being normally and continuously urged laterally to engage the header boards in front of the supporting means, for directing road material from adjacent the header boards inwardly towards the blade means.

13. In a machine for grading roads, a frame adapted to be located transversely of the road and capable of being conveyed longitudinally of the road, means at the opposite sides of the frame for supporting the same relative to the opposite sides of the bed of the road, conveying means mounted on the frame and extending transversely of and to one side of the road, blade means at the front side of the frame for lifting and di recting material from the bed of the road to the conveyor, and deflectors at the opposite ends of the blade means for directing road material from the bed of the road, adjacent the front portion of the supporting means, to said blade means.

14. In a machine for grading roads, a long narrow frame adapted to be located transversely of the road and capable of being conveyed in either direction longitudinally of the road, means at the opposite end portions of the frame for supporting the same relative to the bed of the road, material conveying means extending longitudinally of the frame to one side of the road, and blade means at opposite sides of the narrow portion of the frame for lifting and directing, to the conveying means, material, from that portion of the bed of the road located on the side of the frame in the direction of movement of the frame on the road, the distance between the leading edges of the blade means being substantially the width of the narrow portion of the frame and said edges of the blade means being positioned substantially immediately below the corresponding edges of the frame, the frame having a material receiving chamber extending substantially the whole distance between the narrow portions of the frame.

WILLIAM HURST LEWIS. 

